Physicist salary in Australia: where it sits on the national pay index
Understand physicist salary in Australia and how it compares to the national line. We explain the salary index, typical pay ranges, and what influences earnings.
The median physicist salary is not officially published, but based on related data it likely sits around index 91, below the national line, though senior roles in government can exceed index 126.
Physicist salary in Australia: where it sits on the national pay index
If you’re looking into a physicist salary in Australia, you’ll find that precise figures are hard to pin down. The occupation is small – only about 1,500 people work as physicists or astronomers, according to Jobs and Skills Australia. That means the Australian Bureau of Statistics doesn’t publish a median weekly earnings figure for physicists alone; the sample is too small to be reliable. Instead, we have to piece together clues from broader data and from public sector pay scales.
What the data tells us
The closest broad category is Professionals, which includes physicists. In August 2025, the ABS reported that the median weekly earnings for Professionals was $1,900. Annualised (multiply by 52), that’s $98,800. On the Salary Index, where 100 equals full-time adult ordinary-time earnings of $108,352 per year, that works out to an index of about 91. That’s below the national line, but remember: this is a median across all Professionals, from entry-level to senior, and across many fields.
Physicists tend to be highly educated – 82% have a postgraduate degree – and many work in government, universities, or specialised research. Those roles often pay above the Professionals median. For example, the Australian Public Service Enterprise Agreement (effective from March 2026) lists base salaries for classifications that physicists commonly hold:
- APS 6 (experienced physicist): $105,260 to $127,521 per year – index 97 to 118.
- EL 1 (senior physicist or team leader): $137,301 to $157,498 per year – index 127 to 145.
- EL 2 (director or principal physicist): $167,708 to $192,469 per year – index 155 to 178.
These are base salaries, not including superannuation (12% from 1 July 2026) or performance bonuses. A physicist in the APS at EL 1 level is earning well above the national line.
Industry and location matter
Where a physicist works also shifts the index. The industries where physicists are most common include:
- Education and Training (universities): industry index 105.5, annualised $114,300.
- Public Administration and Safety (government research): industry index 106.5 (based on ABS data for that industry).
- Health Care and Social Assistance (medical physics): industry index 97.8, annualised $105,900.
- Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (private R&D): industry index 114.7, annualised $124,300.
Location also plays a role. The states with the highest index are the ACT (109.9, annualised $119,090) and Western Australia (106.9, $115,825). Physicists in Canberra, where many government research agencies are based, tend to earn more than those in Tasmania (index 88.6, $96,008).
How the salary index works
The Salary Index compares a gross annual salary to the national benchmark of full-time adult ordinary-time earnings. For example, if a physicist earns $120,000 a year, the index is (120,000 / 108,352) × 100 = 110.8. That means they earn about 11% above the national line. The index helps you see where a pay figure sits relative to the average Australian worker, regardless of inflation or year.
Putting it together: what a physicist might earn
Let’s look at a few realistic scenarios:
- Early-career physicist in a university (Research Fellow, Level A): around $75,000–$95,000. Index 69–88. Below the national line.
- Mid-career physicist in government (APS 6): $105,000–$127,000. Index 97–117. Around or above the line.
- Senior physicist in private industry (e.g., mining or defence): $140,000–$180,000. Index 129–166. Well above the line.
These are rough estimates. The actual [physicist salary]( depends on the specific role, employer, and negotiation.
What about awards and minimums?
Physicists are typically covered by professional or managerial classifications, not modern awards. The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour ($52,255 annualised, index 48.2), but no physicist would be paid that little. The lowest award rate for a science graduate might be around $25.74 per hour under a professional award, but again, most physicists are above award.
Tax and take-home pay
For a physicist earning $120,000 (index 110.8), the 2026–27 tax estimate (resident, with tax-free threshold, excluding Medicare levy surcharge) would be:
- Tax on $120,000: $18,200 tax-free, then 15% on $26,800 ($4,020), 30% on $90,000 ($27,000), 37% on $15,000 ($5,550) – total $36,570.
- Plus 2% Medicare levy: $2,400.
- Total deductions: $38,970.
- Take-home: $81,030 per year, or about $1,558 per week.
That’s a rough guide; individual circumstances vary.
The bottom line
A physicist salary in Australia is not a single number. The lack of official median for the occupation means you have to rely on broader data and public sector scales. Most physicists earn between index 90 and 130, with senior roles pushing higher. If you’re comparing a job offer, use the Salary Index to see where it lands against the national line. And remember that super, location, and industry all add to the picture.
For more context, see our pay guides for other professional occupations, or check how your state compares on the states page.
Questions people ask
What is the typical physicist salary in Australia?
There is no single published median for physicists because the occupation is small (about 1,500 workers). However, using the broader Professionals category from the ABS, median weekly earnings were $1,900 in August 2025, annualising to about $98,800 (salary index 91). Many physicists work in government or universities, where APS pay scales apply: an APS 6 physicist earns around $105,000–$127,000 (index 97–118), while an EL 1 physicist earns $137,000–$157,000 (index 126–145). Private sector roles in mining or R&D can pay higher.
How does a physicist salary compare to the national average?
The national full-time adult ordinary-time earnings benchmark is $108,352 per year (index 100). A physicist on the Professionals median of $98,800 sits below that line at index 91. However, many physicists in senior government or industry roles exceed the national line. For example, an EL 1 physicist in the APS earns $137,301 (index 126.7), well above average. Location also matters: physicists in the ACT (index 109.9) or NSW (101.2) tend to earn more than those in Tasmania (88.6).
What factors influence a physicist's pay in Australia?
Key factors include sector (government, academia, private industry), level of experience and seniority, location, and specialisation. Physicists in mining or resources can earn significantly more due to industry loading (Mining index 154.7). Those in education and training (index 105.5) or professional services (114.7) also tend to earn above the national line. Government physicists follow APS classification bands, which increase with responsibility. Postgraduate qualifications are common (82% have postgraduate degrees) and can lead to higher pay.